Bengaluru commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Israel Centre at IIMB hosts exhibition and film screening, along with the Consulates of Germany, Canada and Israel
27th January 2020, Bengaluru: The Holocaust happened during World War II, when six million Jews, along with five million other civilians, were murdered. The United Nations had announced January 27th as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in order for us all to never forget these atrocities. Being part of the international community in Bengaluru, the Consulate General of Canada, the Consulate General of Israel, the Consulate General of Germany, and the Israel Centre at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, held an event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Leaders from the academic and international community gathered at IIM Bangalore for a meaningful evening of discussing the ethical dilemmas facing leaders in stressful times. After the screening of the Canadian film, ‘The Good Nazi’, IIMB students, the next generation of business leadership, interacted with three consul Generals: Ms. Nicole Girard (Canada), Ms. Dana Kursh (Israel), and, Ms. Hellwig-boette (Germany). The discussion was moderated by Prof. Abhoy Ojha, Chair, Israel Centre at IIMB and Dean of Academic Programmes at the B-school.
The event was held in the IIMB auditorium, while the ‘Beyond Duty’ exhibition was displayed at the entrance to the auditorium. The exhibition, created by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Holocaust Memorial Center, Yad Vashem, tells the story of 22 diplomats from different countries who went beyond their duty, sometimes at great personal expense, and saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
This program is part of the year-long ‘Leadership Beyond Duty’ initiative, launched by the Consulate General of Israel to South India, in May 2019. The initiative aims to inform relevant audiences about the importance of ethical conduct of leaders and taking of brave decisions, ‘beyond their duty’, in times of need. In order to create a wide impact, the Consulate General of Israel has partnered with leaders from various sections such as Business, Education, Civil Society, Religious and other Diplomatic Missions.
Prof. Abhoy Ojha, Chair, Israel Centre at IIMB and Dean of Academic Programmes at IIMB, said: “The Israel Centre at IIMB is happy to be a part of an initiative that remembers and confronts history. This evening has given us an opportunity to do so.”
Ms. Nicole Girard, Consul General of Canada, said: “In joining Indian students and other participants in honoring those killed during the holocaust, we are reminded of the lessons of history and our collective responsibility to stand against anti-Semitism, and the continuing need to do what is necessary to work for a peaceful and inclusive world.”
Ms. Dana Kursh, Consul General of Israel to South India, said: “Being both an Israeli diplomat, and a resident of Namma Bengaluru, I feel a great responsibility, and honour, in discussing with Indian students, the lessons learned from our grim history. A history which is not only a tragedy of the Jewish people, but a tragedy of humankind. It is my hope that through these discussions, we can give our youth tools for a better future.”
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